New Lebanese Cabinet members chosen

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss announced on Saturday his new Cabinet, to be approved by the parliament Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Al-Hoss, who takes over as prime minister under President Emile Lahoud after the previous prime minister, Rafik Hariri, declined to accept reappointment, chose a 16-member Cabinet that is more than half made up of "specialists and technocrats" NNA reported.

The report quoted Al-Hoss as saying that while his Cabinet will feature an even balance between Muslims and Christians, "Such a narrowed cabinet could not accommodate all social and political forces"

Minister of Interior Michel Murr will retain his post, and former Minister of Public Health Sulayman Franjiyyeh takes over as minister of agriculture and housing.

Anwar al-Khaleel will serve as minister of the displaced and information, and George Corm was chosen as Minister of Finance.

Lebanon News Wire also noted the other ministerial appointments that round out the Cabinet: Minister of Culture and Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Training, National Education, Youth Guidance and Sports Mohammed Youssef Baydoun; Minister of National Defense Ghazi Zaayter; Minister of Labor, Social Affairs Michel Moussa; Minister of Economy and Trade, Industry Nasser Al-Saiidi; Minister of Post and Telecommunications Issam Naaman; Minister of Justice Joseph Shawool; Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Resources Suleiman Traboulsi; Minister of State for Administrative Reform Hassan Shalaq; Minister of Public Health Karam Karam; Minister of Tourism, Environment Arthur Nazarian; Minister of Transportation, Minister of Public Works Najib Meeqati.